Storm Sailing

In 2010, at the age of 16, Jessica Watson from Australia sailed solo around the globe unassisted.

She was not allowed to moor the boat in any harbors. Her thirty-four-foot sloop suffered seven knockdowns with 40 feet waves and 70 knot winds. A knockdown is when the wind and waves knock your boat over and the mast enters the water. Her emergency beacon was inadvertently activated and her family believed her boat had sunk. She spent 210 days alone at sea. Maybe in your life you have suffered a knockdown? What do you do? If your boat is not damaged and you have not suffered life-threatening injuries...keep sailing!

My father and I used to go sailing on day trips. The best part was returning to port after a day on the water. We would tie the mooring line to the cleat in the bow of the boat. We would put the sail cover on and make sure all of the boat lines were in place. Sailing is rigorous and tiring. We loved going ashore and standing on solid ground.

Jessica had seamanship training and knew what to do during a storm. You need to keep all of the hatches closed and use an anchor. For Christians, the Lord is our anchor. Hebrews 6:19 tells us, “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain.” You also need to be harnessed to the boat with a safety line. In extreme weather, it is best to be inside the boat with most or all of your sails lowered. The main lesson we see here is that she did not give up. In the same way, we need to remain steadfast with our reading of God’s Word and our prayer life in order to have a strong spiritual life. We need to remain unwavering in our convictions of who we are in Christ...and we need to keep our final destination in mind.

Many people give up when mishaps happen. I am sure Jessica was wet, tired, and scared. Most likely she was tired of eating the same food. However, the storms would pass and she would dry herself off inside of the boat and perhaps have a strong coffee. She would then raise the sails again and get back on course.

2 Corinthians 4:7-10 says, “But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.” The mercies of God are new every morning. We must not look back; we need to look forward. We must depend upon God to be the strength of our life.

Looking around, it appears there are dark clouds and ferocious winds in the world today. There is news of political and economic insecurities. There is news of disease and natural disasters. Realize you are sailing through a storm! Be diligent in your quest. There is a safe and secure harbor waiting for you in Christ. ~Charlie DeTellis